American college football season
The 1996 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their third season under head coach Dick Flynn , the Chippewas compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 against MAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 353 to 351.[ 1] [ 2] The team played its home games in Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan ,[ 3] with attendance of 100,074 in five home games.[ 4]
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Chad Darnell with 2,921 passing yards, tailback Silas Massey with 1,544 rushing yards, and flanker Reggie Allen with 1,229 receiving yards.[ 5] Darnell was selected as the team's most valuable player.[ 6] Massey had three 200-yard rushing games, including 292 yards against Kent State, which was at the time the third highest single game total in school history.[ 7] Allen became the first Central Michigan player to total over 1,000 receiving yards, including a 229-yard game against Bowling Green.[ 7]
Darnell, Massey, Allen, offensive tackle Scott Rehberg , and tight end Adam Simonson were selected as first-team All-MAC player.[ 8]
1996 Central Michigan Chippewas football team roster Players Coaches Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 9 Tim Crowley Jr WR 6 Joe Danna So QB 7 Chad Darnell Sr FB 46 Shawn Deer Sr TB 40 Eric Flowers Fr G 63 Mike Primeau Fr OT 79 Scott Rehberg Sr TE 82 Mike Wilson Fr
Defense Pos. # Name Class OLB 89 Joe Fortuna Jr SS 17 Paul Gauthier So DT 90 George Ghattas So LB 53 Cory Gildersleeve Sr ILB 41 Jason Gold So ILB 44 Jeremy Gold So
Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster
^ "1996 Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2016 . ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 114. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016 . ^ "Football Facilities" . Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016 . ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 87. ^ "1996 Central Michigan Chippewas Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2016 . ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 95. ^ a b 2015 Media Guide, p. 90. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 93. ^ "Virginia rolls over CMU to give Welsh 99th victory" . Detroit Free Press . September 8, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Louisiana Tech comes back to edge Central, 38–37" . Detroit Free Press . September 15, 1996. Retrieved July 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
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